Mating successfully at high densities often requires species to employ unusual reproductive tactics. We report
unique courtship behaviours in an un shed, high-density
spawning aggregation of squaretail groupers (Plectropomus areolatus) that are potentially associated with alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs). Aggregating males are
typically known to court females in small territories (pair
courtship), which is often associated with a pair-spawning tactic. However, we also observed the largest males
simultaneously courting several females in mid-water
shoals – a unique, high-cost-high-benefit courtship tactic which appears to result in a novel school-spawning tactic. Counter-intuitively we observed an inverse size-
assortment in individuals–large males courted smaller
females and vice-a-versa, likely linked to different pay-
offs with competitive ability and local mate density. These
unique, high-density behaviours are threatened to be
lost, with increasing commercial fishing pressures on the
P. areolatus aggregation.

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